Today in history: May 18

1861 : USS Monticello exchanges fire with Confederate batteries at Sewall’s Point, Virginia, in an engagement that ends inconclusively. Want to learn more about the Civil War? Head over to HistoryNet.com for more. Also today in history, in the U.S. and elsewhere: 1291 : The Crusader stronghold of Acre falls to Mamluk forces under Sultan al-Ashraf Khalil. 1652 : Rhode Island becomes the first British colony in the New World to declare slavery illegal. 1804 : Napoléon Bonaparte is confirmed as emperor by the French Senate. Formal ceremony to follow… Want to know about Napoléon Bonaparte's accomplishments and failures? Visit HistoryNet.com . 1897 : A Romanian national hero is given a weird fictionalized requiem as Irish author Bram Stoker’s novel is published in London by Archibald Constable and Company. 1948 : Troops of the Arab League capture the fort on Mount Scopus from t...